Frame inverter



July 5, 1949. w. F. PIOCH 2,474,984

FRAME INVERTER Filed Feb. 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. F. PIQCH INVENTOR. 7 151? ATTORNEYS.

July 5, 1949. w. F. PIOCH 2,474,984

FRAME INVERTER Filed Feb. 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet s WORK AREA WORK AREA w. F. PIOOH INVENTOR.

\ dcizm/dL/ mi, y f 7% 7 MM. f 9M Patented July 5, 1949 FRAME INVERTER William F. Pioch, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application February 8, 1947, Serial No. 727,441 (01. 214-1) 4 Claims. 1

This application is concerned with a materials handling system and more particularly with a system for conveying and manipulating vehicular chassis during manufacturing operations.

The use of a constantly moving conveyor system or assembly line is almost universal practice in the automotive industry. The initial unit to be placed on the assembly conveyor is usually a prefabricated frame. As a matter of convenience this frame is first mounted on the conveyor horizontally, but inverted from the position it will assume in the completed vehicle. This permits the addition of those parts which are secured to the underside of the frame without the difiiculties inherent in working on the underside of the assembly. As an example, the rear axle assembly on certain vehicles is so designed that it is installed more readily when the frame is inverted.

When all the desired components have been added to the underside of the frame, the assembly is rotated 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis into a vertical position. While in this position, it is carried through a spray booth where a final protective coat of paint is applied. After above-mentioned rotations are in the same direction, so that the result is that the chassis are moved from an inverted position to the normal position and are ready to receive further components which are best added from the top of the chassis.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for conveyin andinverting vehicular frames during assembly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus whereby a vehicular frame may be inverted completely, or held at any intermediate position between the normal and inverted positions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the arrangements. constructions, and combinations of the various elements of the structure described in the specification, claimed in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of that portion of the inverted mechanism and which is supported upon the overhead monorail of the conveyor system.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the inverter assembly showing a frame in place and in the inverted position.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the inverter assembly showing a frame in place, with an axle assembly Turning to Figure 1, the monorail upon which the assemblies are supported is indicated by 10. Yoke i i is supported on monorail l0 through rollers !2. Spider 13 is rotatably supported at the bottom of yoke II in bushing l4. Spider i3 is provided with a plurality of radial appendages 5 terminating at their outer ends in rollers [6. The purpose of appendages l5 and rollers I6 will become apparent as the description proceeds. In the instant case there are nine appendages and rollers with #1 roller 16 on #1 appendage i5 shown in engagement with #1 channel cam I1 which is rigidly secured to the underside of monorail III.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the relationship between the structure of Figure 1 and the remainder of the assembly is shown. Here a frame l8 with superimposed axle assembly I9 is shown supported by sling 20 and bracket 2! secured thereto. It is to be noted that spider l3 occupies the same position in Figures 1 and 2 and that #1 appendage is upright and in engagement with #1 channel cam ll. This represents the instant just prior to the beginning of the inversion of the frame. Prior to this time, all work on the underside of the frame has been completed.

Sling 20 may be fabricated from rope, cable, chain or any strong and flexible medium. However, it preferred tc make at least a portion of the sling 2B of chain since a positive engagement of the sling 28 with the spider I3 is required. A portion of the spider 13, not shown, carries sling 20 and is provided with teeth for engaging positively the chain of sling 20. Thus, any rotation of spider l3 in bushing I4 must result in a corresponding movement of sling 20. To provide positive engagement of sling 20 and frame it, bracket 2| is provided.

Figure 5 is a plan view of monorail it with a series of channel cams I! mounted on its underside. In Figures 1 and 2, #1 roller 16 is engaging the #1 channel cam l1.

As the entire assembly moves along monorail l0 clockwise from point A, the cam action of #1 channel cam I! on #1 roller It causes a counter-.

I! in regular order until #7 roller i6 moved by #7 channel cam i1 is on the upper center-line; At this point the frame has been rotated to an approximately vertical position for-the paintingoperation. This is the position depicted'in Figure 3. Also at this point, indicated at B in Figure 5, the normal slope of #7 channel cam 11 changes:

and parallels the center of monorail l for a distance determined by the distance required for-the completion of the painting operation. Thus further rotation of spider I3 and the frame I8 is prevented during the painting. At a point C on the line marking the conclusion-of the painting operation- #7, channel cam l1 again departs from. the center line of the monorailuandrotation of .the spider: l3.and frame. l8.,continues. This process repeatsfor a total .of 12.channelicams I! or until Spi s made ppr ximately one-andeone-p third revolutions. Thisplaces the frame in the right-side-up position shown in Figure 4. When the centerline ofthe twelfth. channel cam I! intersects the center line ofqmonorail I0 at D, this channel cam IIbeginstoparallel the monorail I0; This-holds the framein-a right-side-up position until all requiredworkis completed and the frameis transferred to'a;separater moving COD? veyorbelt and the-wei htremoved from suspension 20;

The monorail lil is; of course, arranged to form a closed circuit as shown inFigure-B. After the:

suspension 20 has beenfreediof the assembly, the center line of, the #3 channel cam l1 departs from the center line ofmonorail-glflsatE in such a way as to reverse the previous direction of rotation.

Through a similarseries -0f--,channel cams, the

spider l3 isreversedrto its original position. The last channel cam ofqthisrreverse,series-must; of course, merge with-#1;channel cam H as illustrated in Figure 5; Thus,- anqautomatic return to the original positionready for thereceptiona,

of another frame is provided.

I claim as my; invention:

1. In a materialshandling. system, an overhead track arrangedin closed circuit, ayoke arranged to move along said track, a spider member rotatably supported in said yoke, a sprocket arranged to rotate with said spider member, a sling, a portion of which is in positive engagement with said sprocket, a series of radial arms secured to the spider and fixed cam surfaces adapted to engage said radial arms and impart a rotary movement to the spider.

2. In,.a materials handling-system an overhead track arranged irra closed'circuima yoke arranged to move along said track, a spider member rotatably supported in said yoke, a sprocket arranged torotate with said spider member, a sling, a portion of which is in positive engagement with said sprocket, abracket secured to said sling at a position remote from-the sprocket, a series of radial arms secured to the spider and fixed cam surfaces adapted-mo-;engagessaid radial arms and impart a rotary movement to the spider.

3; A positioning device for incomplete assemblies comprising an overhead track arranged in aclosedrcircuit, a series 10f, cam surfaces on the underside of ;.the,track.;a;yoke arranged to move along said: track; .a spider. member rotatablysupported in, said yoke, asprocket arranged. to rotate with saidspiderlmemb'er; asling, a portion of which; is in positivesagement with said sprocket, a series; of -.radial armssecured to the sp der, a d cams.-.spider-.and;s1ing.beingarr n ed to holdthe assembly, imoneiposition for the duration of the first eperatiom to rotate the assembly tota second-position foria-secondhoperation and hold, this second position; for the duration of the second operation, and then to further rotate the-.assembiy; into: av. third position and secure the assemblyxin this. position. for the duration of .a third operation;

4. The device-recited in claim: 3 in which a sec,- ond series .ofcam. ,surfaces is provided in the return circuit and..--af.ter th'entermination of the final operation whicha;rotates--the: spider in a direction; opposite. to andian amount equal to the original, rotation,

PIOCH.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following referenhes are of record in the file of this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,498,153 Cull June 17, 1924 1,778,484 Da Costa Oct. 14, 1930 1,916,025 Skeehan June 27, 1933 1,930,607 Browne; Oct. 17, 1933 2,344,476 Turnbull, Mar. 14, 1944 

